There's something captivating about a big, transformational goal. It can consume us, drive us and inspire us. I’ve noticed something else about our relationship with big goals. Most of us are wired to achieve greatness for others which, in some strange way, limits our ability to achieve those goals. Think about it. We focus on growing a substantial business to support the life we want for our families. We work endless hours on behalf of our clients. We invest time and energy in ensuring our team is happy and motivated to succeed. Of course (and obviously) there’s nothing wrong with focusing on the needs of those around us. However, if we consistently push our own goals into the background, it can't help but negatively impact the outcome. Doing so limits your ability to intentionally design a business that will motivate and inspire you in the long run. It seems to me that we have a harder time achieving big goals that are driven more by a personal vision or passion, than by the needs of others. This is particularly true once we’ve achieved some level of success. Cue the voices in our heads that tell us that we should be happy with what we have, feel grateful for our success and to stop rocking the boat. And while this is a nuanced argument, I honestly believe you need to tackle this issue if you want to build a truly extraordinary business. In particular, you need to tackle this issue if you want to achieve Absolute Engagement.

Beating Back the Voices in Your Head

Let’s face it, the internal demons will be there no matter what. They are louder for some of us and little more than a nuisance for others. And the reason we let them win is simple. We’re often missing a fundamental skill set – the one that allows us to set big goals that support our own vision of the future.[Tweet "Transformation is as much a skill as an outcome."]So to achieve big goals that are grounded in a personal vision, we need to learn a new skill. We need to take baby steps that will hone the skill, build the muscle and give us the confidence to tackle the really big goals.

One Thing That Will Help You Achieve YOUR Biggest Goals

This tactic is all about getting used to setting goals that will enhance your business by starting small. To that end, I’d suggest that you pick one thing that would make your day or week a little better. I’m not talking about a transformational change, but a simple thing that would make you more productive, happier, more relaxed or more effective. Here are a few to consider as a starting point (and to make the point that we’re talking about small changes):

• Work from home one day a week
• Go in later to miss the morning rush hour
• Connect with your team for 15 minutes every morning
• Buy a new coffee maker for the office
• Book a massage once a month
• Book lunch with one top client
• Go to Udemy.com or masterclass.com and take a course that has nothing to do with work.
• Delegate one task that you hate to do.

What would make a difference for you? Once you have that small goal in mind, do it. And once you’ve implemented the change, pick another small goal and do it. Rince, wash, repeat. Not long ago I interviewed Jason Butler and he shared that a major transformation in his life started with a small and unrelated step. He booked off work from 9:00 – 11:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It was his time to work out and focus on his health and it was written in stone. It was one small step toward a much bigger transformation.

Intentionality is the Key

Sometimes we do things for ourselves but we ‘sneak’ those things into our day. We steal half an hour to listen to a podcast or pretend we’re going to a meeting and take a walk. Key to this process is being clear and intentional about these goals. Define the goal, set the time aside and do it openly and intentionally. Tell others what you are doing and lead by example. It will have an impact on those around you and enhance your own experience. You’ll benefit more because it won’t feel like you're taking time from those around you, but making an investment in yourself.

Big Change Requires Two Things

In order to achieve any big goal we need to have: clarity on the steps and confidence we can achieve it. This exercise builds confidence. It gets you used to setting and achieving goals and it greases the wheels for you to make bigger and more significant changes. Starting small will change the way you think about goals and propel you to take action on the bigger goals. And a funny thing will happen. The more you focus on building a business that supports your own personal vision the more you’ll support the people around you. Your success, your focus and your energy will make you a better employer, colleague, advisor, spouse or parent.

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Thanks for stopping by,

Julie